There was a need to fill the old Cotton Bowl Stadium with a bowl game since the Cotton Bowl officially changed its address to new Cowboys Stadium a year ago. The answer to that problem is the creation of the Dallas Ticket City Bowl to be played this New Years Day between the Northwestern Wildcats of the BIG TEN and BIG 12 member Texas Tech Red Raiders. This game has a Noon ET start time and will be televised on ESPNU. Oddsmakers at most offshore sportsbooks list the Red Raiders as -9 spreads favorites with a 60 1/2 total. Be sure to get the latest College Football Point Spreads for all the 2010-11 bowl season.
Betting trends show spreads (ATS) wagering nearly going down the middle with a slight 52% majority picking Northwestern and taking the +9 points. Money Line betting is heaver in Northwestern's direction as 74% of the money wagered on the Wildcats to win SU.
The Wildcats are bowl-eligible for the fourth straight season and the fifth time in the past six years. This is the third time the Wildcats have faced a BIG 12 team in a bowl game. Texas Tech and Northwestern are meeting for the first time in the schools history.
Northwestern earned its second-straight New Year's Day bowl bid with a 7-5 regular season in 2010. The Wildcats begain the year with a perfect 4-0 romp through its nonconference schedule, that included a road victory over SEC member Vanderbilt. Northwestern struggled in conference play going 3-5.
The Wildcats were not too kind to their backers covering the betting spreads in 2010 only cashing in two of 11 games they played. The OVER was the best bet on the posted total this year cashing in five of seven games Northwestern played.
Texas Tech became bowl eligible for the first time under head coach Tom Tuberville by going 7-5 SU, but struggled within the BIG 12 going 3-5 and finishing next to last in the leagues South Division.
The Red Raiders only covered for backers in five of 11 games while the UNDER was the best totals bet cashing in six of nine contests. Texas Tech was a profitable bet for backers in 2010 cashing in four of seven games when lined as a favorite. Northwestern wasn't as good as a fav cashing once out of six lined games.
Ticket City Predictions : This is a game I predict lots of scoring and less defense. I expect Texas Tech to win the game SU, but I'm taking the Wildcats ATS +9.
